The Miami Athletic Department announced today that long-time Hurricane baseball coach Jim Morris has been given a contract extension through the 2015 season. He will be entering his 17th season with the Canes baseball program in the upcoming spring where he has led them to 11 appearances in the College World Series including national championships in 1999 and 2001. This was not an unexpected move as Morris has always had competitive teams in Coral Gables and nothing should change in the upcoming season. You can check out the full press release below.
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt announced Sunday that head baseball coach Jim Morris has signed a contract extension through 2015.
Morris, who will enter his 17th season at the helm of the Miami baseball program in 2010, has led the Hurricanes to the College World Series in 11 of his 16 seasons in Coral Gables – including National Championship runs in 1999 and 2001.
"We are extremely pleased to announce a contract extension for coach Morris," Hocutt said. "Jim has demonstrated that he is the best college baseball coach in the country. Even with the rich history of Hurricane baseball success, he has raised the bar even higher."
A three-time national coach of the year and 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year, Morris has established a record of 733-278-3 (.724) at Miami and set an NCAA record in guiding the `Canes to the College World Series in each of his first six seasons at UM.
"I am very excited about the extension and want to thank Kirby and Dr. Shalala for all they have done for the baseball program," Morris said. "Kirby has made a big difference as our Director of Athletics in such a short period of time. I look forward to the upcoming season and our team goal of competing at the highest level on the field and in the classroom."
This past season, Morris led the `Canes to their 37th straight NCAA Tournament. He also reached a pair of coaching milestones in 2009 as he recorded his 1,200th win as a Division I head coach in UM’s season opener before recording his 700th win at Miami on Feb. 28 at Florida. Currently fifth among active Division I coaches in career wins, Morris became just the 18th coach in the history of D-I collegiate baseball to reach the 1,200-win mark with UM’s 6-1 win over Rutgers on Feb. 20.
In addition to carrying on Miami’s great baseball reputation the last 16 years, Morris has personally led the charge in the construction of Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field, helping to raise funds for the stadium project.
Prior to his first season at Miami in 1994, Morris spent 12 seasons as the head baseball coach at Georgia Tech and three at DeKalb (Ga.) Community College. In 31 seasons as a head coach at the college level, he has compiled an overall record of 1,368-563-4 (.708).
A native of Lexington, N.C., Morris played college baseball at Elon College before spending time in the Boston Red Sox organization. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education degree from Elon College in 1973 before earning a Masters of Education degree in Health and Physical Education from Appalachian State University in 1975.
He was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 and in 2005, was tapped into Iron Arrow – the highest honor bestowed upon a person by the University of Miami.
